We all live in a world of one- or two-year contracts for smartphones, unless you go pre-paid, but it looks like US giant Amazon would like to give out smartphones for free, off-contract. The news is coming from sources of former Wall Street Journal reporters Amir Efrati and Jessica E. Lessin.

The two claim that Amazon has talked with various wireless carriers about offering the smartphone through traditional carrier channels, but at the end of the day the company would like to offer the device on its own website, where they don't need to force customers to sign up to a two-year wireless contract in order to receive the phone.

Amazon would have to pull in some serious favors to see this happen, but it isn't that far out of the question at the moment. The company could push Amazon Prime, which usually sells for $79 per year and offers multiple member perks such as free two-day shipping and $3.99 per item overnight delivery on millions of Prime eligible items.

Prime members based in the US also receive free Kindle e-book rentals as well as Instant Video streaming which makes the deal quite good, especially if you're a frequent Amazon shopper.